On March 12, the court heard Mr Leach attempted to retrieve the bogged excavator on his own by dragging it out with a chain attached to a 30-tonne excavator. On this occasion, the court heard the chain snapped but did not injure Mr Leach.

The court heard company director Theofilis Kalidonis was “very angry” with Mr Leach and terminated his casual employee contract, before deciding to give him a second chance.

On March 20, Mr Leach attempted to retrieve the bogged excavator again using the same method without authorisation, the court heard. The chain snapped and recoiled, fatally striking him in the head.